Traveling on a plane can be a stressful experience – lots of people sitting in a reduced space, families with young children who will at some point probably start crying, people walking down the aisle to go to the bathroom, and those stretching next to your face trying to reach for something they have left in the overhead bins. The list of unpleasant things happening during a flight can be pretty long.

Traveling in premium cabins is a good way to avoid air travel’s unglamorous side, and airlines have undoubtedly noticed a clear demand increase for these cabins, especially in the post-pandemic era. However, more people than one might think are increasingly finding private jets the perfect solution to arrive at their destination relaxed and on time. Although you might think that these jets are reserved just for VIPs and top executives, new solutions have found their way to allow for a more “democratic” way of flying private.

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There are a range of ways to embark on such a journey.

Sharing economy in the sky

Over the last few years, the so-called sharing economy has completely revolutionized our lives. Think of apps like Uber or Airbnb and all those innovations that leverage the Internet to bring people the products and services they need right when needed.

Believe it or not, the sharing economy has also found its way into the private aviation industry. Indeed, it is now possible for anyone, business or individual, to visit websites and apps to request a private jet. Say you want to charter a private jet for your business or your next holiday. In the past, the process could have taken up quite some time.

Photo: Media_works I Shutterstock 

You’d have had to pick up the phone and call a private jet broker, who would have contacted different operators based on your travel needs. However, small operators managing four to five aircraft could count on just one salesperson, meaning waiting times for the customer could have been up to 48 hours, and, in the end, there might not have been any aircraft available. It used to be a very lengthy and potentially frustrating process, and one needed to add the very high price of the aircraft.

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Although it most often costs more than a first class ticket, renting a private jet is not just for celebrities.

Recently, platforms like Jettly have modernized the chartering and renting process by bringing all data available in one platform, making it easier and quicker for anyone to (at least) know the price of flying privately from A to B. On platforms like Jettly, passengers can do themselves what the private jet brokers once did: get information on the aircraft features and the route. Additionally, as an open marketplace, Jettly allows prospective customers to read reviews of the aircraft as if they were renting a house or apartment on Airbnb or accepting a lift from an Uber driver.

What you can get

It is no surprise that, when it comes to the Internet, you can find almost everything you need.

The same applies to these new private jet renting platforms. The aircraft types you can find are of different natures, and you can choose based on your travel needs. The range of available jets goes from turboprops with a capacity of four to eight seats to airliners and cargo jets. For instance, Jettly offers the following categories of jets for renting:

• Entry Level Jets
• Heavy Jets
• Light Jets
• Midsized Jets
• Super Light Jets
• Turbo Props
• Super Midsized Jets
• Ultra Long Range
• Airliners

The price for each jet is based on an hourly rate. Therefore, the rent price will depend, among others, on the trip length. Let’s give some examples for each of the categories mentioned above:

As if you were choosing your apartment for your next holiday on Airbnb, Jettly allows you to check out the different aircraft options, read comments of previous travelers, and get insights on the aircraft amenities and what you’ll find onboard. In the past, customers did not have the chance to hear from previous experiences with an operator, leading to an offer being accepted at face value. Now, with every customer filling out a satisfaction form after the flight, operators are more motivated to provide flawless products and services.

Alternative ways of renting a private jet

Depending on how often you fly and the reason for your trips, there are other ways to rent private jets.

Some of the more prevalent alternatives include fractional ownership and jet cards. Fractional ownership, as the name suggests, means more people own a “fraction” of a private jet. If you choose this option, you buy a nominal share of an aircraft type in return for a guaranteed number of flying hours at a pre-determined price. Fractional ownership does not mean you are a part-owner of a specific aircraft. Indeed, you might fly different aircraft that are part of an operator’s fleet. However, the aircraft type will always be the same. The main advantage of fractional ownership is the high level of assurance regarding the availability of the aircraft.

Photo: InsectWorld I Shutterstock

On the other hand, a jet card provides a lower level of commitment. This solution entails pre-paying for a certain amount of flying hours at fixed rates. The main advantage of jet cards is that owners enjoy fixed hourly rates and can fly on different aircraft types depending on their travel needs.

Jettly is one of the providers of such a solution. Looking at their website, these are the different options available for those interested in jet cards:

How do you rate the hourly rate of private jets? Let us know by clicking on the comment button below!